On a very sloppy track, Orb came from behind to win the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby. The son of Malibu Moon earned the first Derby win for trainer Shug McGaughey and breeders/owners Stuart Janney III and the Phipps Stable. Orb, ridden by red-hot jockey Joel Rosario, was sent to post as the co-favorite at 6-1, and looked every bit deserving as he charged down the stretch to win convincingly. Last-minute entry Golden Soul finished second, with Revolutionary and Calvin Borel finishing third.
A great win today for the traditionalists, and the result of five generations of Phipps family bloodlines. In an age of instant gratification and buying your way to the winners circle, it’s great to see some “old timers” enjoying the roses on the first Saturday in May. Shug McGaughey said all along that if the horse wasn’t ready he wouldn’t run– the Phipps and Janney do not believe in entering a horse “just to be there,” it had to be a legitimate winning contender. And Orb was just that. We say this every year after the Derby…could this horse be the one? Could this horse be the one to win the Triple Crown? It would be neat to see Orb do it and redeem the Hancock/Phipps decision back in 1970 on the coin flip that gave Secretariat and the 1973 Triple Crown to Penny Chenery and Meadow Stable. Happy 40th anniversary!
